Solar Vent Advice Request

[Bedouin]

Hello!

As I add another chalk mark to the tally of days since my H306 was pulled out for the winter here in Maryland I am contemplating projects for the spring (or earlier just so I can get back on board). One possible project is the installation of a solar-powered vent in the v-berth hatch, and I am looking for advice and experiences.

I am thinking of installing a Nicro Day & Night 2000 with the 4" fitting. The Nicro guide says that for a 30' boat I should be installing one active intake and one active exhaust vent. But I am tempted to install just the active v-berth hatch vent set to exhaust, figuring that it would draw enough air through the companionway gaps to still move enough air per hour.

How many vents do you have, where did you place it/them, and what is your experience with mildew/musty smell reduction?

Thank you all in advance and happy waiting for the start of the next season! (unless you're in warmer climes)

Nico

 

[kito]

I just bought 2 solar vents for my H30. I am removing the old air cowls which have 3" holes in the cabin top. I bought a 3" version to fit in the existing holes, one will blow and the other suck. I screwed up and bought the daylight only kind.....no battery. They should work fine anyway.

 

[maxrdr]

I have a Hunter 310 in which I installed a Nicro 4" solar exhaust fan in the forward hatch. I closed the vents in the cabin top and cut two side by side 3" x 3" holes in the bottom hatch board and cover them with a louvered cover from West Marine with a screen back. I have good ventilation throughout the boat.

 

[Bedouin]

Thank you both for your feedback! I wish I had existing air cowls with which to work. But in their absence, I think I will emulate maxrdr and install a 4" exhaust fan (solar) in the v-berth hatch and a couple of louvered covers in the companionway boards. I may also cut another one next to the in-cockpit hatch of the aft berth to make sure that gets aired out a bit, too, without having to leave that hatch open.

Thanks again!

Nico

 

[seadaddler]

Vent

I did install a solar vent in the vee berth hatch in my 2001/290 and it did help keep the boat smelling fresher and also now have one in the vee berth hatch of my 2007 H-36 and yes they work great.
Nick

 

[Bedouin]

Hi Nick! Quick question - did you set those v-berth fans to exhaust or intake?

 

[puddlejockey]

I was actually thinking of starting a thread on this, just to share my experience.

Here in the " dirty south" , we have very high humidity the majority of the year, and I installed a micro day/ night vent in the v berth hatch when I replaced it, as well as another (non micro) solar vent in the main cabin hatch, both drawing out.

You do need good passive ventilation, or else the makeup air will be pulled through the path of least resistance, which may not be ideal. In my case, I was replacing g hatch boards anyway, so I popped a few holes and covered them with cowl vents on the outside of the top batten board. Works great. Better to have too much ventilation than not enough!

As an FYI, while the micro vent LOOKS much better; the other vent, a higher profile white plastic only job, runs much quieter, as well as longer when you've had overcast days. I'll try to get their brand and post here. So my take is: yes vents, as many as you can reasonably install, yes passive intake, no nicro day/ night vent!

 

[puddlejockey]

And that was. Nicro, not micro. Spellcheck must be a sign of the aparaclypse ..

 

[Dave Groshong]

They are new and improved, really do a good job of moving air:

http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?52153

 

[Bedouin]

Thanks again, everyone!

Puddlejockey, if you do happen to find the brand of the non-Nicro solar vent please share.

Cheers!

Nico

 

[seadaddler]

Exhaust

One exhaust and one intake to keep fresh air flowing ,only thing is I have only gotten 2 or 3 years before they stopped working and needed replacing.
I now have a 12volt computer fan up in the one in the v-berth and will try replacing the v-berth one with a new solar vent and will install the 12 volt vent into my rear berth hatch for cross ventilation.
Nick

 

[Ken13559]

I've a day/night nicro vent on forward hatch. For the 2 passive vent port at cabin top, i fitted 4 computer fans with on/off switches such that i could set a pair for exhaust or intake. These fans are driven directly from battery as i have shorepower on whenever i leave my boat. When i go sailing, i switch the fans off.

 

[jtm]

On my h28.5 I have a Nicro 1000 ( 3 " , no battery, solar only) mounter in the mid cabin hatch. I sips enough during the days sun to keep the interior fresh and goes dormant in the damp nights. High and Centrally located it works well year round. I also drilled a second 3" hole just forward center of the mast to install the battery b/u Nicro day/ nite and it is a good secondary running 24/7 when wanted or just set to passive. The fan can be exchanged for a in or out function. I didn't want to have a thru the acrylic lens vent to risk a leak with deck wash so the higher set cabin hole seemed less leakprone.

 

[jtm]

Clarification: the day/nite was not wanted set into the V-Berth hatch which would be more likely to take deck wash and possibly
leak was in rougher water.

 

[newage1461]

I replaced my Nicro with an off brand solar that cost under $60 . Turns out it wasn't worth that. Now I figure I'll look for one that is 12v or 110v with a transformer, and hook it to a timer so that it runs all day or whatever I decide while at dock.

 

[Ken13559]

Clarification: the day/nite was not wanted set into the V-Berth hatch which would be more likely to take deck wash and possibly
leak was in rougher water.

My day/night vent is mounted on the forward hatch. I have had several occasion of sea water splashing up and over bow but never had water enters through the vent.